Comments Off on $20K studio in Virginia demonstrates straw bale can be viable in humid environments

Straw bale building offers an affordable, sustainable solution to materials like concrete. Sigi Koko of Down to Earth Design demonstrated straw bale building will work even in wet climates with the Zeljo Studio , a 300-square-foot cottage in Arlington, Virginia . Built with reclaimed and scavenged materials, the studio cost less than $20K to build . The Zeljo Studio is comprised of a ” timber frame structure ,” with straw bales providing insulation . Wood siding provides an elegant exterior and the interior is finished with clay plaster locally sourced with soil from the building site. The foundation was already in place. Atop the dormers is a green roof to absorb rainwater and help a loft remain cool in warm summer weather. Due to the straw insulation, the studio stays warm in the winter without needing much heat. Related: Super-efficient straw-bale houses hit the market in the UK – piglets need not apply The owners of the studio found salvaged bathroom fixtures, kitchen cabinets, a kitchen sink, doors, and flooring for the loft. According to Koko, they obtained many of the materials for free. They even found new energy efficient windows that were “misordered” so were sold for a hefty discount. Koko wrote in an article , “By far, the biggest concern with strawbale walls, as with most materials in a wet or humid climate, is moisture.” She designed the straw bale studio in humid Virginia to help show straw bale buildings are still viable in wet climates. By targeting areas where water can sneak in, like at the wall base, windows, or roof eaves, straw bale homes work in places heavily exposed to moisture. Koko wrote an article outlining what steps home owners can take to protect their straw bale homes that can be read in detail here . + Down to Earth Design Images courtesy of Sigi Koko, Down to Earth Design

Comments Off on INFOGRAPHIC: Meet the Ultra-Efficient Homes of the Future

Resources are dwindling, prices are rising, and energy efficiency has never been more important. Commercial buildings have long been designed with conservation in mind: Taiwan’s national stadium is covered almost entirely with solar panels , and the CaixaForum Museum in Madrid boasts a living wall of 15,000 plants. However, with the world’s population predicted to exceed 8 billion by 2050, architects are turning their green design skills to residential homes. Potential structures range from ancient mudbrick domes, to space-age Earthships . Some designs are more viable than others, but the Big Deal team have identified five of the most promising candidates. For a glimpse of the future, check out their infographic below. Read the rest of INFOGRAPHIC: Meet the Ultra-Efficient Homes of the Future Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: “sustainable architecture” , Big Deal , building materials , earth-sheltered home , earthship , Energy Savings , green alternative building materials , green building materials , green flooring , green home , green insulation , green structural components , infographic , passive solar , reader submitted content , Straw Bale , Superadobe , sustainable home , This is the Big Deal

Comments Off on Americans Put the Environment Ahead of Economic Growth For the First Time Since the Recession

Photo from Shutterstock A few years ago, when the economy took a nosedive, a majority of Americans decided for the first time since the 1980s that the economy was more important to protect than the environment. Fortunately, that trend has reversed itself once again. Gallup has released a poll which shows that Americans once again prioritize the environment over economic growth by a 9 point margin, with Democrats leading the shift. Read the rest of Americans Put the Environment Ahead of Economic Growth For the First Time Since the Recession Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: Democrat environment , economic growth , economic policy , economy poll , economy vs environment , environment poll , environmental destruction , environmental policy , environmental protection , Gallup , Gallup economic growth poll , Gallup environmental poll , Gallup Poll , Gallup poll economy , Gallup poll environment , Gallup poll environment vs economy , Republican economy

Comments Off on Report Finds Renewable Energy is Cheaper Than Gas and Coal in Australia

In the wake of soaring temperatures that made it impossible for some residents in the Australian outback to pump gas , good news is finally coming to the energy market Down Under. A report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) found that unsubsidized renewables are now cheaper sources of electricity than newly built gas or coal plants. The team also projected that new wind farms could supply electricity at $80 MWh compared to $143 MWh for coal and $116 MWhr for new gas-fired plants. The rates account for carbon emissions, but even without CO2 numbers wind would still be 14% cheaper than new coal and 18% cheaper than new gas. Read the rest of Report Finds Renewable Energy is Cheaper Than Gas and Coal in Australia Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: “wind power” , australia , bloomberg new energy finance , bnef , coal , gas , michael liebreich , pv , ratch australia , renewable energy , solar

Comments Off on Packaging the Future: Edible Wrappers, Containers and Bags (Yum?)

Here at Inhabitat we’ve been hoping for, and advocating, biodegradable packaging for years, but now designer entrepreneurs are thinking even bigger; how about packaging one could actually consume? Turning what was a waste product into something that could actually confer nutrition (and would degrade quickly if uneaten), could make litter a thing of the past. Several companies have been working on edible packaging over the last couple of years, and as the idea moves closer to reality, Time magazine even called it a ‘game changer’ for 2012. Read on for a look at the state of the art in edible packaging! Read the rest of Packaging the Future: Edible Wrappers, Containers and Bags (Yum?) Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: biodegradable packaging , eco design , edible container , edible packaging , edible wrappers , green design , green food packaging , healthy food , molecular gastronomy , Monosol , packaging the future , Perpeceuticals , sustainable design , sustainable food , sustainable food packaging , sustainable packaging , sustainable produce , wikicell